Program Description

Wisconsin Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) certification permits the holder to perform the following activities as delegated and supervised by a dentist: (a) Placement and finishing of restoration material after the dentist prepares a tooth for restoration; (b) Application of sealants; (c) Coronal polishing; (d) Impressions; (e) Temporizations; (f) Packing cord; (g) Removal of cement from crowns; (h) Adjustment of dentures and other removable oral appliances; (i) Removal of sutures and dressings; and, (k) Application of topical fluoride, fluoride varnish, or similar dental topical agent.

As a prerequisite to program enrollment, an applicant must have one of the following: a) Completion of at least 1,000 hours practicing as a dental assistant and holds the certified dental assistant credential issued by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., or its successor. b) Completion of at least 2,000 hours practicing as a dental assistant, as verified by the supervising licensed dentist.

EFDA graduates, as members of a team of oral health professionals, work to evaluate, treat and manage patients of all ages in dental office settings. In addition to performing dental assistant duties, the scope of practice for Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary includes, but is not limited to:

• Performing preventative procedures • Performing restorative procedures • Performing prosthodontic procedures

Found in These Career Fields:

Approximate Program Cost

$3,934
Tuition & Fees: $2,592
Books & Supplies: $1,342

Financial Aid

Not Available

Courses That Fit Your Schedule

Professional-Friendly

The EFDA technical courses are designed for working dental assistants and are scheduled on Thursday nights and Fridays. Depending on your background, you may also need Dental & General Anatomy and Dental Health Safety courses, which are offered on a different schedule.

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A Closer Look

Detailed Program Information

Take a deeper dive into the details of this program. This section offers information to help you evaluate whether the program fits your goals, interests, and timeline. Use it as a tool to guide your decision-making process.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Maintain infection and hazard control
  • Maintain clear field of vision including isolation techniques
  • Perform preventative procedures
  • Perform restorative procedures
  • Perform prosthodontic procedures

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary

Courses

The Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) Advanced Technical Certificate is a 12 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

Credit for Prior Learning Available

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Additional Information

What is the EFDA Program?

The Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) program is designed to provide dental assistants with additional training to perform expanded duties under the supervision of a dentist. This program prepares students to apply for Wisconsin EFDA certification.

What are the Prerequisites for the EFDA Program?

To enroll in the EFDA program, students must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Hold a Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) certified dental assistant credential and have a minimum of 1,000 hours of dental assistant practice, or
  • Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of dental assistant practice, as verified by the supervising licensed dentist.

What are the EFDA Courses?

Term 1 Preparatory Courses

  • Dental Health Safety (10-508-101) (1 credit): Dental Health Safety is a required four-day course offered before the official semester begins. Please refer to the Dental Health Safety course section for exact dates and times of upcoming availability.
  • Dental & General Anatomy (31-508-304) (2 credits): Dental & General Anatomy may be required depending on prior courses taken and transcript. Course scheduling varies, so please refer to the Dental & General Anatomy course section for exact dates and times of upcoming availability. Credit for prior learning may be available.

Term 1 Courses — Offered on Thursday Evenings & Fridays

  • EFDA Preventative Procedures (10-508-122) (1 credit)
  • EFDA Dental Procedures (10-508-121) (3 credits)
  • EFDA Prosthodontic Procedures (10-508-123) (2 credits)

These courses will be delivered one at a time throughout the semester in the order listed above.

Term 2 Course

EFDA Clinical (10-508-124) (2 credits): This course is taken only after all other EFDA courses are successfully completed.

Does NTC Help Find an Affiliation Site?

At this time, NTC does not assist in securing clinical sites. The program is designed for working dental assistants who will complete their clinical rotation at their place of employment. However, once NTC expands its dental clinic to include the Dental Therapy program, EFDA students may have the opportunity to complete clinical rotations on-site.

What Textbooks Are Required?

Students are required to purchase the following textbooks:

  • Modern Dental Assisting, 14th Edition (Book & Workbook) – Debbie S. Robinson CDA, MS
    ISBN: 9780323824408
  • Dental Materials, Clinical Application for Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists, 4th Edition
    ISBN: 9780323596589
  • PA Expanded Function Dental Assistants Exam (Review for EFDA Exam)
    Available at: RBM Publisher

What Equipment and Supplies Are Required?

Students will need to purchase:

  • An instrument kit, including:
    • Adult and child dentition models
    • One series of individual teeth (50) for lab/test-out
    • Basic instrument set-up
    • Rubber cheek
    • Utility gloves
  • Scrubs
  • White shoes and white socks

Fees for the instrument kit have not yet been determined.

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

Before you apply, you should know

As a prerequisite to program enrollment, an applicant must have one of the following: a) Completion of at least 1,000 hours practicing as a dental assistant and holds the certified dental assistant credential issued by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., or its successor. b) Completion of at least 2,000 hours practicing as a dental assistant, as verified by the supervising licensed dentist.

Fill out our pre-admissions form

The pre-admissions form allows us to verify that you have satisfied the dental assistant practice hours prerequisite prior to submitting the admissions application. To begin the program in the fall semester, this form must be submitted by July 15.

Submit Pre-Admissions Form

What’s Next?

We’ll follow up and let you know when you are able to complete the admissions application.